Roll top box



Feb. 8, 1938, J. H. HoRsLEY ROLL TOP BOX Filed Dec. 19, 1954 Jar/66 EHU/dey,

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLL TOP BOX Application December 19, 1934, Serial No. 758,207

17 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of boxes or receptacles of utilitarian and decorative character, such as for use on a table, dresser, or the like, for holding cigarettes, cosmetics, jewelry, or other articles.

An objectV of the invention is the provision of a construction for a receptacle of this character having a disappearing top or closure.

Another object is the provision of such a construction which lends itself to pleasing and ornamental design-which is strong and durable, and which can be 'manufactured quite economically.

Other and further objects will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter, or will be apparent upon an understanding of the invention.

For the purpose of aiding in an explanation of the invention, I disclose in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and hereinafter describe, one form in which it may be embodied; but it is to be understood that this is presented merely by way of illustration, and is not to be construed in any fashion calculated to limit the appended claims short of the true and o most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a. box representing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of same;

Fig. 3 is a detail in the nature of a part transverse sectional elevation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of certain parts of the structure in partly assembled condition; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a slightly modied construction.

The nature of the invention will be most quickly ascertained from a detailed description of the construction illustrated in the drawing.

'I'his construction is designed to provide a very compact structure involving comparatively few parts which may be formed and assembled quite economically.

Primarily, this construction comprises what may be termed a frame portion, a sheathing portion, and a closure portion. The frame portion includes duplicate inner side members I and a body member II. The inner side members may be pressed from sheet metal to form an inwardly oiset' part Illa delineated by a guide portion IIlb which is circumscribed by a web IUc. This web has a laterally extending flange IIld along a portion'of its margin. In the form here shown, the

inner side members are primarily of quadrilateral form with rounded corners, the flange IIId extending throughout one of the longer margins and around the adjacent corner curves. The dished portion is, provided with slots Ille.

The body member Il also may be formed of sheet metal and is of trough-like shape, corresponding generally to the margin contour of the guide portion Hlhotheinnersidememberse At its ends it is provided with integral tongues IIa adapted to register with and fit tightly in the slots IIIe. The frame portion is assembledsimply by tting the body and inner side members together with the tongues in the slots, whereby the members are retained in assembled relationship for assembly with the other parts.

The sheathing portion comprises outer side members I2 and transverse members I4. The outer side members I2, which may be formed o'f sheet metal, have theiz` upper margins of a contour corresponding to those of the inner side members I0 and terminating in laterally directed guide iianges I2a arranged to run parallel with the guide portions IIlb when the inner and outer side members are placed in parallel and abutting relationship with the webs IIlc under theanges I2,a, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The transverse members I'4 may be connected to the outer side members I2, as by brazing, serving, when so connected, to hold said members in parallel relationship at a distance apart corresponding to the length of the frame'portion.

The closure portion comprises a sliding top made up of a plurality of parallel strips I5 of relatively rigid material secured to a flexible sheet I6, such as strong fabric, in parallel and abutting relationship. The closure portion is thus rigid lengthwise of the strips I5, but flexible transversely thereof, and its width is such as to span the distance between the webs IlIc.of the oppo--40 site inner side members.

The closure portion and sheathing portion are assembled with the frame portion by placing the closure in a position spanning the trough .of the body member, with its margins resting on the guides IIlb, and then fitting or nesting this assembly within the sheathing portion. When so assembled, the margins of the closure portion are retained between the guides IIlb and the guide iianges I2a, the web I Ilc acting as a spacer to 50 hold said last mentioned parts at a suitable distance from each other to permit the closure to have free sliding movement between them.

The parts are held in this assembled relationship by a bottom member I1, which fits within the lower part of the sheathing portion and contacts thelower surface of the ange Illd, said bottom member being secured in place by appropriate fastenings I8. Suitable legs or rests I9 may be secured to the bottom member, and the closure may be provided with an appropriate handle 20 adjacent its forward end.

When the closure is drawn forwardly to a limit position which is established by a stop flange Ila, it completely covers the body member Il, thus forming a closed receptacle. When the closure is pushed rearwardly, it rides on the guides I0b, and flexes around the curved portions thereof, until it reaches the anges |011, whereupon it rides on those flanges as it progresses to a position below the body member. Its limit of movement in this direction is established by a stop lib, which is struck downwardly from the lower forward portion of the body member.

An alternative construction is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the inner side members l0 and outer side members I2 are round, and the tongues Il a are turned inwardly to fasten the inner side members to the body member, the margins of the transverse member I4 extending under the flanges I2a of the outer side members and being secured to the inner side members l0 `by inwardly bent tongues Hb.

What I claim is:

1. A roll top box comprising a pair of inner side members having inwardlyv extending guide portions, a hollow body ymember connecting and spacing said inner side members in parallel relationship, a flexible closure arranged to slide on said guide portions, anda sheathing portion encasing said body and inner side members and comprising outer side members cooperating with said guide portions to form a runway for opposite margins of said closure.

2. A roll top box comprising a pair of inner side members having inwardly extending guide portions, a hollow body member spacing said inner side members in parallel relationship, a flexible closure arranged to slide on said guide portions to positions above andl below said body member, and a sheathing portion encasing said body and inner side members and comprising outer side members cooperating with said guide portions to form a runway ior opposite margins of said closure. f

3. A roll top box comprising. a pair of inner side members having inwardly extending guide portions, a hollow body member spacing said inner side members in parallel relationship, a flexible closure arranged to slide on said guide portions to. positions above and below said bodymember, and a sheathing portion encasing said body and inner side members and comprising outer side members having inwardly projecting parts overhanging said guide portions and cooperating therewith to vguide the iclosure vin its sliding movement. Y

4; A roll top box comprising a pair of inner side members having inwardly extending guide portions which are arcuate through' a portion of their length, a hollow body member spacing lsaid inner side members in parallel relationship, a flexible closure arranged to slide on said guide portions to positions above and below said body member, and a sheathing encompassing said body and-inner side members and retaining them in assembled relationship.

5. A box as specified in claim 4 and wherein said sheathing comprises outer side members arranged parallel with said inner side members and having inwardly projecting parts extending parallel with said guide portions and cooperating therewith to retain and guide the closure.

6. A roll top box comprising a pair of inner side members having guide portions, a hollow body member connected at its ends to respective inner side members and maintaining them in parallel spaced relationship, a iexible closure arranged to slide on` said guide portions, outer side members in lateral abutting relationship with the respective inner side members and having inwardly projecting parts cooperating with said guide portions to form retaining and guiding channels for margins of the closure, and means retaining said outer side members against movement outwardly away from the inner side members.

'1. A box as specified in claim 6 and wherein the inner side members have ange portions cooperating with said inwardly projecting parts to keep said guide portions spaced therefrom for accommodation of the margins of the closure.

8. A roll top box comprising inner side members having inwardly extending guide portions, a hollow body member between/saidinner side members, a flexible closure arranged to slide on said guide portions, outer side members abutting the outer sides of the inner side members, and

transverse members connecting the outer side A said outer side members, a iiexible closure arranged to slide on said guide portions, and a `bottom member below said body member and co-4 operating with the outer side the inner side members.

12. A box as speciiied in `claim 11 and wherein said outer side members have portions cooperating with said guide portions to form slideways for retaining and guiding the closure.

13. A box as speciied in claim 11 and wherein members to retain said outer side members have portions cooperating with `-said guide portions to form slideways for retaining and guiding the closure in a curving path about portions of the body member.

14. A roll top box comprising a frame portion which includes inner side members and an interposed hollpow body member interconnected therewith, a sheathing portion comprising outer side members connected in spaced relationship by .transverse members, a flexible closure arranged to slide on the inner side members to positions abovehvland `below the body member,-said` frame portion and closure being insertable within the sheathing portion in their previously assembled relationship, and a bottom member secured to said sheathing portion and retaining the frame portion therein.

15. A box as speciiied in claim 14 and wherein said sheathing portion has parts cooperating with said inner sidermembers to form retentive slideways for the closure.

16. A container comprising la bottom wall, side 75 walls, end walls, and a top, said container having an opening in its top, a continuous flexible closure member of greater length than the length of said opening arranged to slide with respect `to said opening, said side walls comprising inner and outer members, means for holding said members in spaced relation, said outer members being ,of slightly greater width ythan said inner members and having inwardly directed flanges, said flanges forming with said inner members grooves for guiding said flexible closure member in its sliding movement.

17. A roll top box comprising a pair of inner side members having inwardlyprojecting portions spaced from and following the contour of their margins, a hollow body member joined to said inner side members and spacing them apart from each other, said inner side members having inwardly extending anges along their lower margins, outer side members associated with said inner side members and having anges extending inwardly across upper and lateral margins of said inner side members, said inwardly extending flanges on the outer and inner side members cooperating with said inwardly extending parts of the inner side members to form-channel ways, a exible closure member of greater length than the body member arranged to slide with its margins in said channel ways, and transverse members connecting the respective ends of the opposite outer side members to secure them in association JAMES H. HORSLEY. 

